Three years have come and gone since the greatest individual performance in Cleveland Cavaliers history. Not only that, but it was one of the most impressive stat-lines that the NBA has ever seen.
Donovan Mitchell, who had scored just 16 points in the first half as his Cavs were trailing the Bulls, didn’t seem to be on track for a major night. But, by the time it was all over, he had 71 points, and 11 assists to boot.
Even more impressive perhaps from the Cavs guard, was that it was the first-ever 70-point, 10-assist night in the history of the association.
Mitchell already owned the third-highest scoring playoff performance in league history before this happened. This just made things that makes what he can do that much more impressive.
Re-Living A Historic Night from Donovan Mitchell
January 2, 2023, was a big one for Cleveland Cavaliers fans. Donovan Mitchell came through in such a big way, on a night that nobody was going to be forgetting any time soon.
As things got close late, Chicago opted to foul while leading by three points with four seconds to go in the game. After making the first foul shot, Mitchell missed the second, got his own rebound, and well, the rest is history.
In getting his own miss and scoring, he set the franchise single-game scoring record on the play with 58 points. The beauty of it was that, he wasn’t even done by that point.
Mitchell did most of his work in the extra session from beyond the arc, knocking down three triples to lead his team to an eleven-point victory. 55 points after halftime. 11 more assists. Two rebounds shy of the biggest triple-double by a Cavalier.
Spida’s first season with the team was as memorable as any of the ones have been since as far as accolades and individual performance goes. This was one where he was feeling it in a way that few players ever do.
Mitchell became the seventh player in league history to ever drop 70 at the time. Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid, and Damian Lillard have since joined him.
A night that nobody in Cleveland has forgotten since, and probably never will.
Back to the Present for the Cleveland Cavaliers
Three years to the day Donovan Mitchell dropped 71 points, the team is preparing to take on the Denver Nuggets. The Cavs have won back-to-back games against the Spurs and Suns, looking like their old selves in the process.
Cleveland is facing a Nuggets team that could be without their entire starting lineup, with superstar Nikola Jokic getting hurt earlier in the week. Jamal Murray is on the injury report today, probable with a sprained ankle. Jonas Valanciunas filled in for Jokic just the other day, and didn’t make it through his first Denver start.
This is a golden opportunity for the Cavs to take advantage of their size, and go for their third victory in a row. The offense has shined through in the fourth quarter in each of these wins. It also gives them four wins in their past six games, coming at a much-needed time in the new year.
Mitchell is bounced back with a 34-point double-double against Phoenix. Darius Garland and Evan Mobley have been looking healthy. Perhaps, things are looking up in Cleveland after all.
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